NCAA champ Bubba Jenkins signs with American Top Team, headed to MMA

http://mmajunkie.comAs expected 2011 NCAA Division I national wrestling champion Bubba Jenkins is headed to the world of MMA.

The 23-year-old has officially joined the Florida-based American Top Team, team officials today announced.

Jenkins, who won this year’s NCAA title at 157 pounds, concluded a career at Penn State and Arizona State with a 94-24 record, including a 21-3 mark in his championship 2010-2011 season.

Even before defeating then-undefeated (38-0) David Taylor in the championship match back in March, Jenkins announced his intentions of moving into MMA.

“Bubba is now fully committed with his MMA career and will move down to American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla., where he will join a host of other MMA stars to work with, such as Mike Brown, Cole Miller, Jorge Masvidal, Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Alves, Hector Lombard and Gleison Tibau among others,” the announcement stated. “This is the first wave in American Top Team’s bid to bring high level wrestlers into the mix. We are very pleased Bubba has decided to call ATT and South Florida home.”

No stranger to the big stage, Jenkins’ NCAA finals victory came in front of 17,687 fans.

After earning a state championship in high school, Jenkins began his career at Penn State, where he was a 2008 runner-up at 149 pounds. But after a clash with new coach Cael Sanderson, he transferred to Arizona State and had his most successful season. Taylor, whom he beat in this year’s NCAA finals, competed for Penn State.

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